Safety-line



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SAFETY LINE No.'465,446. PatentedDemZZ, 1891.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IVO BERNAUER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SAFETY-LINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 465,446, datedDecember. 22, 1891.

Application filed March 20. 1891. Serial No. 385,761. (No model.)

fixed to the base-board or floor on the inside of the wall beneath thewindow-sill. v

The invention affords a sense of security to the person using it, and incase of the accidental loss of balance would prevent the user fromfalling.

The device may be. easily constructed and readily applied, and does notmar or deface the wood-work nor present unsightly-objects from theexterior of the windows, such as the rods, brackets, &c., now generallyused.

The drawing shows the invention applied to use, the wall, window-sill,and the floor showing in sectional elevation.

In the drawing, A represents the safetyline, the end of which ispreferably bifurcated. The safety-line may be of cord-age, leather, orstout webbing, and at one end it is divided into straps a, which aresewed or otherwise secured to an attaching-band B, having broad straps OD passed over the instep and ankle, respectively, and provided withbuckles c, or other fastening means. The line may be made detachablefrom the band B in any convenient way, so that in moving about from onewindow to'another, or from one room to another, the line may be detachedWithout removing the band B from the foot. One end of the line is madefast to an I-bolt E, affixed by a corner-bracket F to the base-board Gand floor H below the window-sill I.

In washing the windows ofupperstories the usual position of the personperforming the work is to sit upon the Window-sill with the feet insidethe room and with the face toward the window, the upper and lower sashesbeing moved up or down in order to bring the glass within reach. In thisposition there is little real'danger of falling; but there is always asense of insecurity, which is removed by the use of this safety-line.The line may be readily detached from the wall without removing it fromthe foot, and so occupies but a short time in adjustment to thedifferent windows where the work is being performed.

It will be observed that the line is secured at two points to theattaching-band D, and that these points are on opposite sides of theheel, 'so that in case of an accident the pull would be both upon theinstep and upon the ankle from opposite sides of the heel, so that i ifa person should be suspended by the line there would be no danger ofbreaking the limb. The line, however, is usually only of such length asto permit a very limited movement of the foot, and therefore it will bewellnigh impossible for the person using it, even in falling, towithdraw the feet through the window far enough to prevent recovery ofbalance. The line also serves as a fulcrum or brace against which theforce is exerted in maintaining or recovering the balance and permitsthe user to lean back with both hands disengaged.

I claim A safety device for use in cleaning-Windows, comprising a linehaving an end thereof secured with an attachin g-band, having straps tosecure it about the ankle and instep, re-

spectively, and its opposite end adapted to be made fast, substantiallyas described.

' IVO BERNAUER.

\Vitnesses:

N. M. BOND, E. L. HUBER.

